First Crush, Last Love by Elizabeth McKenna

Book Details:

Book Title:  First Crush, Last Love by Elizabeth McKenna
Category:  Adult Fiction,  314 pages
Genre:  Romance - Contemporary
Publisher:   Elizabeth McKenna
Release date:  Aug 1, 2017
Format available for review:  print & ebook (mobi, ePub PDF and gifted Kindle copy)
Will ship print books to:  USA & Canada
Tour dates: Oct 16 to Nov 3, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There are a few short, mild sex scenes - nothing too graphic. There is swearing by certain characters. Mature themes include drinking/alcoholism, verbal abuse with some physical pushing, AIDS (a minor character is gay), stalking, brief descriptions of child abuse by a step parent, and suicide attempt (overdose).

Book Description:

​Remember your first crush? How your heart raced and your cheeks flushed whenever you saw him? Jessie Baxter does, and it’s happening again. Ten years ago, despite her best efforts, Lee Archer wanted to be just friends. Now, he wants more, but Jessie's still recovering from a psycho ex-husband. Can she learn to trust again and make her first crush into her last love?

​Elizabeth McKenna’s latest novel will have you remembering the angst of high school, the grief of a failed relationship, and the happiness of true love.

Buy the Book:
​Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble
​CreatespaceAdd to Goodreads
​

Meet the Author:

Elizabeth McKenna works as a full-time technical writer/editor for a large software company. Though her love of books reaches back to her childhood, she had never read romance novels until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene).

She had always wanted to write fiction, so she combined her love of history, romance and a happy ending to write Cera's Place and Venice in the Moonlight. Her short story, The Gypsy Casts a Spell, is available for free on her site http://elizabethmckenna.com/. She hopes you will enjoy her first contemporary romance novel, First Crush Last Love, as much as others have enjoyed her historical romances.

​Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and a sassy Labrador. When she isn't writing, working, or being a mom, she's sleeping.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram

My Review

First Crush, Last Love by Elizabeth McKenna was an interesting book as it focused on a woman who has a psycho ex-husband and a boy who used to just want to be friends now wanting to be more. I found the dynamic to be interesting as the two main characters used to be just friends, but now that an interest for more has been put out there the dynamic between them has begun to change. I found myself really hoping that they would make it together and find love with each other  as they both clearly deserved it.

How to Find a Topic to Write About to Get Views

How to Find a Topic to Write About to Get Views

One of the biggest problems writers, bloggers, and freelancers struggle with is finding the right topic to write about in order to get their writing seen by as many visitors as possible. The first thing most writers try is performing Google searches on phrases such as: “what to write about”, “picking the right topic”, “what should I write about” and “how to get lots of blog views”. Most of the websites that come up will say that writing about personal knowledge and experiences is one good idea because the writer will already be an expert on the topic. Then there are others sites that will provide a list of the top ten blogging topics, but most of those topics are way overused. How can you find topics to write about that are popular now?
Google Trends
Google Trends is a public online website that is based on the statistic of Google Search; this allows the site to provide information about the topics that are getting the most views. Google Trends provides a list of the topics that are getting the most views at the time the user opens Google Trends. Each one of these popular topics has not only the topic itself, but also the tags, other popular search terms for the same topic, and a graph that shows the progression of the number of views on the topic during a twenty-four-hour period. In addition, a search bar allows users to search terms and topics of their choice in order to see how many views that topic has gotten in different parts of the world over time.
All of this makes Google Trends the absolute best place for bloggers and writers to investigate in order to figure out what topic(s) they should be writing about to get the most views. The only problem is that for bloggers who are in a specific niche topic, many of the most popular topics might not fall directly into their niche, but the search bar will allow those bloggers to search for topics in their niche that are receiving a high number of views.
KWFinder
KWFinder is a keyword research tool that allows users to search the popularity of up to five terms free every day. This site is not as good as Google Trends for finding the best topics to write about in order to get views, because it limits the number of free searches and because it only works off searches. However, this makes it a good site for bloggers who wish to remain in their niche because it allows them to type in the topic of their blog and instantly get twenty-five topics which fall under their search term and the number of searches those topics have received in the previous year.
Overall, KWFinder is better left as an SEO tool, unless the writer or blogger is searching for new topics to blog about within their niche. However, this does require the user to already have an idea of the type of topic that they wish to blog about.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

How Fiverr Can Help You on the Way to Publication

How Fiverr Can Help You on the Way to Publication

Fiverr is a global website that acts as an online marketplace where buyers and sellers can exchange money for gigs (tasks/jobs). The name Fiverr comes from the fact that the starting cost of all jobs is $5. The main categories of gigs offered on Fiverr are graphics & design, digital marketing, writing & translation, video & animation, music & audio, programming & tech, business, and fun & lifestyle.
Even professional authors need help in getting their books reading for publication and then marketing them, but unlike professional authors, not everyone has the budget to go out and hire an agent or a manager. You might be planning to publish your book yourself as a Kindle book and not have the funds to hire the professional to make your book the best it can be. However, if you have $5 you can hire an individual to perform specific tasks to make your book better.
Cover/Images
People might not always judge a book by its cover, but a good cover can certainly draw a reader in. On Fiverr, there are many college students majoring in art and graphic design who have the artistic talent to take your dream cover image and make it a reality. For a cover image most Fiverr sellers charge $5-$10, based on the amount of desired detail, and for an additional fee most are more than willing to draw pictures that can be included in your book. Would you like to be able to show your readers what your characters look like?
Proofreading
Everyone makes mistakes; it is simply an unpleasant fact, but readers are not always forgiving of typos and grammar errors that disrupt their enjoyment of an otherwise enticing story. While it is always possible to do your own proofreading, it can be difficult for a writer to catch their own mistakes because a writer will often see what they expect to see. One trick is to read your whole book backwards, but that takes time and willpower. Instead, you can easily hire a Fiverr seller who is an experienced editor with a background in proofreading who you can pay to do it for you. Fiverr editors and proofreaders generally are willing to negotiate their fees based on the number of pages and how detailed you want them to be. You can choose if you want the seller to find spelling and grammar mistakes or if they should also report on any parts of the book that do not make sense to them. They can even offer suggestion on information that could be added or removed from the book to improve the way it reads.
Book Trailer
If you really want to get your book out there in the digital community, there is nothing like a book trailer with animated characters or live actors. As an author, you might not know how to create a book trailer with digital effects which is designed to wow the audience, but there are many college students that do. Would you like to have a video on YouTube that shows the absolute best of your book?
Marketing
The services offered by Fiverr sellers in relation to marketing your book are diverse and easy to personalize based on your specific needs. Perhaps you would like your book promoted on social media or have promotional flyers posted at colleges or community buildings; no matter what you desire, the sky is the limit and if you can imagine it there is someone who can make it happen!

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

The Cottage Kitchen

Share in a gorgeous, thoughtful life in the charming English countryside with The Cottage Kitchen, a cookbook of recipes and stories by Norwegian-born photographer and tastemaker Marie Forsberg.

My Review

The Cottage Kitchen was filled with well written recipes, but I found them to also be kind of boring. There was nothing attention grabbing or unique that popped up and said " you have to make me".  That is not to say that the recipes were bad just somewhat average. 

THE SKY THRONE

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Sky Throne by Chris Ledbetter
Category:  YA Fiction,  300 pages
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:   Month 9 Books
Release date:  April 18, 2017
Format available for review:  print & ebook (PDF and ePub)
Will send print books to: USA & Canada
Tour dates: Sept 18 to Oct 20, 2017

​Content Rating: PG + M (No f-words but there may be some mild profanity, and mild religious expletives such as "damn", "hell" and "Oh God!", some depictions of violence. No drug use or underage drinking. Some semi-mature themes - suggestion of sexual misconduct by certain characters, but not the actual performing of it.)
​
Book Description:

Duality dwells at every turn, and an adolescent Zeus will learn that all too well when Hyperion attacks his family on Crete.

When the dust settles, his mother is unconscious and his best friend left for dead.

Stacking epic insult upon fatal injury, Zeus discovers the woman who raised him is not his biological mother. But to ensure her safety while she recovers, a heavy-hearted Zeus leaves her behind to seek answers at Mount Olympus Preparatory Academia.

Zeus embarks on a quest to discover who ordered the attack on his home, avenge the death of his friend, and find his birth mother. When some of his new schoolmates vanish, Zeus's quest is turned upside down, and the only way to make things right is to access the power of The Sky Throne, confront a most dangerous enemy, and take his life back.

On his way to becoming king of the Greek gods, Zeus will learn to seize power, neutralize his enemies, and fall in love.
​

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble  ~ Book Depository ~IndieBound
Quail Ridge Books ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon.ca ~
Amazon AUS
Add to Goodreads

Watch the Trailer:
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Meet the author:
​
Chris Ledbetter is an award-winning author of short fiction and novels for young adults. “Jason’s Quest,” a short story retelling of the Jason and Medea Greek myth was published in the anthology, Greek Myths Revisited. His first full-length novel, Drawn earned him two awards, Library of Clean Reads Best YA 2015 and Evernight Publishing Readers’ Choice Award Best YA 2015, as well as a USATODAY “Must Read” recommendation. His second novel, Inked, concludes that duology. The Sky Throne is his newest young adult novel. The second book in the series is set to release in 2018.

He's a proud member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and a strong supporter of the Need for Diverse Books. He now writes and lives in Wilmington, NC with his family, including three cats.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ facebook ~ Pinterest

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Sept 18 - Library of Clean Reads -  review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 19 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
Sept 20 - FLYLēF Reviews - review
Sept 21 - T's Stuff - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sept 22 - Adventures Thru Wonderland - review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 25 - Travelling Through Words - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 26 - The Autistic Gamer - review
Sept 27 - Leels Loves Books - review
Sept 28 - Bookworm for Kids - review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 29 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 2 -    Olio by Marilyn - review / author interview / giveaway
Oct 3 -    Dab of Darkness - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Oct 3 -    The All Night Library - review / guest post
Oct 4 -   A Holland Reads - review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 5 -   A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
Oct 6 -   Cheryl's Book Nook - review / giveaway
Oct 9 -   Laura's Interests - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 9 -   Splashes Into Books - review
Oct 10 - 411 on Books, Authors and Publishing News - review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 11 - The Book Drealms - review / giveaway
Oct 12 - JBronder Book Reviews - review
Oct 13 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review
Oct 16 - Jorie Loves A Story - review / guest post
Oct 17 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
Oct 19 - Nighttime Reading Center - review / giveaway
Oct 19 - 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 20 - Ginger Mom and the Kindle Quest - review
Oct 20 - Books for Books - review
Oct 20 - Bookwyrming Thoughts - review / author interview

My Review

The Sky Throne by Chris Ledbetter was a well written book that I greatly enjoyed reading. It reminded me a bit of the lightning thief, but I found that I actually enjoyed it more than I enjoyed the Lightning Thief. The characters were all well developed characters. I liked the way each character was written as a unique person with their own background. however, Zeus was easily my favorite character I just loved his determination. 

The Painter’s Apprentice by Laura Morelli

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Painter's Apprentice: A Novel of 16th-Century Venice
Author:  Laura Morelli
​Category:  Adult Fiction,  350 pages
Genre:   Historical Fiction
Publisher:  The Scriptorium
Release date:  November 15, 2017
Tour dates:  Oct 16 to Nov 17, 2017
Content Rating:  PG-13 (some adult situations but no sex or explicit violence)

Book Description:

Would you rather sacrifice your livelihood, your lover, or your life? When the Black Death comes knocking on your door, you’d better decide quickly.

Venice, 1510. Maria Bartolini wants nothing more than to carry on her father’s legacy as a master gilder. Instead, her father has sent her away from the only home she’s ever known to train as an apprentice to Master Trevisan, a renowned painter.

When the painter’s servants uncover the real reason why Maria has been sent away, they threaten to reveal a secret that could tear down her family and the future of their trade. She is forced to buy the servants’ silence, but as their greed steadily grows, Maria resorts to more desperate measures. She questions whether her heart’s desire is worth risking her family, her trade, and her future, but Maria’s sacrifices may amount to nothing if the plague arrives on her father’s doorstep before she is able to get back home.

From the author of the award-winning The Gondola Maker comes a rich tale of Renaissance Venice, a heroine with a lust for life, and love against all odds.
Pre-Order Campaign:
Laura Morelli's new book, The Painter’s Apprentice, is out on November 15, and she is offering a set of great bonuses exclusively to her readers. If you like to delve deeper into the “story behind the story,” you’ll want to take advantage of Laura’s pre-order package, (ends Oct 31st) which takes readers behind the scenes of The Painter’s Apprentice with videos, pictures, commentary about Renaissance Venice, and other exclusive content. Learn more here and order your copy today!
​

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & NobleOther digital stores  ~  iTunes
Add to Goodreads
​

Meet the Author:

​LAURA MORELLI holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, has taught college students in the U.S. and in Italy, and currently produces art history lessons for TED-Ed. She authored a column for National Geographic Traveler called “The Genuine Article” and has contributed pieces about art and authentic travel to CNN Radio, The Frommers Travel Show, and in USA TODAY, Departures, and other media. Laura is the author of the Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes the popular book Made in Italy. Her fiction brings the stories of art history to life. Her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, won an IPPY for Best Historical Fiction and a Benjamin Franklin Award.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Pinterest  ~  Instagram

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE:
​
Oct 16 - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 16 - Book Nerd - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 17 - Library of Clean Reads ​- book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 17 - Just One More Chapter - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 17 - Books for Books - book spotlight
Oct 18 - Wander Girl Life - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 18 - Reading is My Passion - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 19 - Hooked To Books - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 19 - Hello, my name is Alice - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 20 - History from a Woman’s Perspective - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 20 - Books, Dreams, Life - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 23 - Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 24 - A Holland Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 25 - Studentessa Matta - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 26 - Words And Peace - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 27 - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 30 - The Autistic Gamer - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 31 - Mystery Suspense Reviews - book spotlight
Nov 1  - What Cathy Read Next - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 2  - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 2  - Celticlady's Reviews -  book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 3  - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 6  - Literary Flits - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 7  - Dab of Darkness - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 8  - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 9  -  T's Stuff - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 10 - 411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 13 - A Soccer Mom's Book Blog - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 13 - The Book Drealms - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 14 - 100 Pages a Day - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 15 - Monica Cesarato - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 16 - Lukten av trykksverte - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 17 - StoreyBook Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway

HubPages for New Writers

HubPages for New Writers

HubPages is a site that allows writers of all skill levels to publish their own original content online and be paid for it. HubPages operates on a revenue-sharing system that pays writers based on the number of views their content receives.
New Writers
While HubPages welcomes all writers, no matter their skill level, it is especially helpful to new writers looking to break into the freelancing field because it allows new writers to show off their writing without being limited to one niche. Unlike blogs where writers need to limit themselves to one main topic in order to generate interest, HubPages is set up so that writers write hubs (i.e. articles). These hubs can be on any topic the writer desires as they are organized on the site by the subject.
Portfolio
For those looking to break into freelancing, HubPages can act as a portfolio for potential clients as it allows writers to show off their writing skills in multiple subject areas. Since the content is published on HubPages, it also proves that the content was not plagiarized as HubPages will only allow writers to publish 100% original content.
Passive Income
Those who write on HubPages should not expect to be able to make enough to give up their main career, but it certainly makes for a nice passive income. The site automatically cashes their writers out when the writer has accumulated $60 in their account. Most new writers will need to write at least ten to twenty hubs before they can enter and be approved for the ad programs, which allow for earning. However, once approved, the writer simply needs to keep writing as the more you publish the more you make. For example, a writer that publishes two to three articles a week can expect to make around $100 a month, depending on how highly viewed the content is.
Obtaining Freelance Jobs
One aspect of HubPages that many people do not know is that a well-written profile can be used to attract freelance writing clients. In order to get clients, the first thing a writer needs to do is to make sure their profile is set to allow people to message them. The next step is writing a profile that will attract clients; the profile should include information about the writer’s life experience, areas of knowledge, and most importantly, the fact that they are open to receiving freelance job offers. Many HubPages writers receive messages asking the writer to feature their book or product in an article on HubPages, and all the writer then needs to do is negotiate their price. Now not all HubPages writers get paid in money; instead some negotiate only for the book, product, or service that the client is advertising, while others will only work for hard cash.
The only limit on how much a HubPages writer can do or make is in the amount of time and/or effort that the writer is willing to put in! It could be very well worth it.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke